Nozzle device

ABSTRACT

A nozzle device for ejecting a liquid onto vehicle windows or headlight lenses. At least one rotation chamber is formed inside a nozzle body. The liquid enters the chamber, is rotationally displaced in such a way that it is then ejected as a homogeneous fan jet via at least one slit-like nozzle opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a nozzle device for distributing or dispensingfluid and in particular to a nozzle device to distribute washer fluid onvehicle windows or lenses of vehicle headlights.

Vehicles windows in the sense of the invention are preferably, but notexclusively, vehicle windshields or rear windows.

Nozzle devices for discharging and distributing washer fluid,specifically water, usually with detergent and/or anti-freeze additives,are known in numerous embodiments. In particular, nozzle devices arealso known whose nozzles or nozzle openings are formed by nozzle slits,specifically for generating a fan-shaped fluid jet (for example, DE 299948 U1). The intent of a fan jet of this kind is to achieve the broadestpossible distribution of the washer or cleaning fluid on the vehiclewindow for the purpose of increasing the cleaning effect.

In the known nozzle devices, the particular nozzle slit is positioned sothat the fan jet makes contact with the vehicle window with its greatercross section horizontal, or more or less horizontal.

The object of the invention is to demonstrate a nozzle device forimproved cleaning effect.

SUMMARY

In the nozzle arrangement in accordance with the invention, the cleaningfluid is set in rotation after it enters the rotation chamber, andthereby a homogenization of the fan-shaped fluid jet exiting the nozzleslit is achieved in such fashion that the jet has an essentiallyconstant jet thickness in the longitudinal extension of the nozzle slit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is explained in the Figures in greater detail in thefollowing from the example of one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows in a side view a nozzle device according to the invention,specifically for use as a washer nozzle for vehicle windows (e.g.vehicle windshields or rear windows) or for lenses of vehicleheadlights; and

FIG. 2 shows a section corresponding to the line I—I of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For a better understanding and for the sake of simplification, the threespatial axes running perpendicular to each other are given in FIGS. 1and 2 as X, Y and Z.

The nozzle device generally identified with the reference numeral 1 isproduced as a molded part in the aspect shown, for example, as aninjection molded part made from a suitable material, for example,plastic. The nozzle device 1 comprises a nozzle body 2 which forms achamber 3 in its interior. The chamber 3 has a circular cylindricalinner surface 4 which runs concentrically with a center axis or axis ofrotation M parallel to the Y-axis.

On each of its sides which are spaced apart in the direction of theY-axis, the chamber 3 is closed off by a planar floor indicated in FIG.1 by the broken line 5 or 6, where the plane of these floors liesperpendicular to the Y-axis in the embodiment shown.

The lower floor 6 in FIG. 1 is formed by the inner face of an end piece7 which is inset into the nozzle bodies 2, or into the open side of arecess forming the chamber 3, and is affixed to the nozzle body 2 in asuitable manner.

A sleeve-like connection 8 is formed on the nozzle body 2, with whichthe nozzle device 1 can be connected to a supply, not shown, forexample, to a hose for supplying a fluid, e.g. washer fluid (an exampleof which is water with detergent and/or anti-freeze additives). Apassage is formed in the connection 8, the axis of which passage liesparallel to the X-axis and thus also parallel to the X-Z plane andwhich, referenced to the peripheral or inner surface of the chamber 3,opens tangentially into the chamber.

In the aspect shown, the configuration is further formed so that thedistance between the two floors 5 and 6 is the same, or about the same,as the diameter of the passage 9, and the axis 10 of the passage 9 is ata distance from the center axis M which is equal to half the diameter ofthe chamber 9 minus half the diameter of the passage 9, so that thepassage 9 lies with its right boundary in the sectional drawing 2tangentially or more or less tangentially to the peripheral surface 4.The passage 9, whose axis 10 lies parallel to the X-axis in FIGS. 1 and2, has a constant cross section over its entire length.

As FIG. 2 in particular shows, the diameter of the chamber 3 isconsiderably greater than the diameter of the passage 9 and thus also ofthe opening of this passage into the chamber 3.

Offset opposite the opening 11 around the center axis M in acircumferential direction A, provision is made for a continuous nozzleslit, that is, the slit passes from the outside of the nozzle body 2into the chamber 3, which slit extends over a considerable angular rangearound the axis M, and in the aspect shown more or less over an angularrange of 90°, and its longitudinal extent lies parallel to the X-Zplane. Referenced to their respective centers, the opening 11 and thenozzle slit 12 in the aspect shown are offset to each other over anangular range around the axis M, which angle is greater than the angularlength of the nozzle slit 12 and in the aspect shown is about 180°.

In the aspect shown, the nozzle slit 12 is bounded on its long sides bysurfaces which lie parallel to the X-Z plane and at both ends bysurfaces 13 and 14 which lie on a plane which includes an angle with animaginary plane running radially through the center axis M, specificallysuch that in the assumed circumferential direction A, the transition ofeach surface 13 and 14 to the inner circumferential surface 4 has asmaller angular distance from the opening 11 than the outer transitionof each surface 13 and 14 to the outer surface 15 of the nozzle body 2.

In the area of the nozzle slit 12, a plate-like or segmental projection16 is molded onto the nozzle body 2, which lies parallel to the X-Zplane with its surface sides and with one surface flush with onelongitudinal side of the nozzle slit 12, specifically in the aspectshown flush with the longitudinal side of the nozzle slit 12 distal fromthe end piece 7. The projection 14 protruding beyond the outer surface15 extends over the entire angular length of the nozzle slit 12, wherethe outer edge 17 of the projection 16 describes an arc around thecenter axis M, and each of the inward running edges 18 and 19 lies in acommon plane with the boundary 13 (edge 18) or with the boundary 14(edge 19). The width of the nozzle slit 12 in the aspect shown issmaller than the distance between the floors 5 and 6. In the aspectshown, the nozzle body 2 is also configured essentially on its outersurface 15 as a circular cylinder.

The projection 16 is profiled on the surface side facing the nozzleslit, meaning that in the aspect shown it is furnished with groove-likechannels which extend from the nozzle slit 12 outward in a direction ofthe outer edge 17. This profiling serves to modify the fan-shaped fluidjet emerging from the nozzle slit. Other profiles to modify the jet arealso conceivable.

When in use, the nozzle device 1 is supplied through the connection 8with a fluid under pressure, for example, washer fluid, which thenenters the chamber 3 through the passage 9 and finally emerges as afan-shaped jet from the nozzle slit 12 radially to the center axis M. Asa result of the tangential issuance of the passage 9 into the chamberwith its circular cylindrical inner surface, a fluid stream orturbulence is generated inside the chamber, which stream rotates aboutthe center axis M in the circumferential direction A. As a result of thepressure of the fluid supplied and specifically of the centrifugalforces exerted on the fluid particles by the turbulence, ahomogenization of the fan-shaped fluid jet emerging from the nozzle slit12 is achieved such that an essentially constant jet thickness is alsoachieved in the X-Z plane, that is in the plane of the longitudinalextension of the nozzle slit 12. The fan-shaped fluid jet can bemodified additionally regarding its jet thickness by the wall section orprojection 16 and its profiling 20, specifically by appropriateredirection, scattering, etc., of the fluid particles impacting thisprojection 16.

The invention was described in the preceding using one aspect as anexample. It is evident that modifications and changes are possiblewithout departing from the fundamental idea of the invention. Forexample, it is possible to furnish several nozzle openings in successionin the direction of arrow A in the place of one nozzle slit 12, whichopenings form an array of nozzle openings, the effect of which is theequivalent of the nozzle slit 12. It is furthermore possible to furnishseveral nozzle slits 12 in succession in the circumferential direction Aor offset in the direction of the Y-axis or arrays of nozzle openings.

In the preceding it was assumed that the peripheral surface 4 of thechamber 3 is configured as a circular cylinder shape with a concavecurvature. Other concave shapes for the inner peripheral surface of thechamber 3 are conceivable, specifically in the area between the opening11 and the at least one nozzle slit 12 or a corresponding array ofnozzle openings.

It is furthermore possible in at least one nozzle slit 12 or to disposeor configure a corresponding array of several nozzle openings in a helixwith reference to the center axis M or to dispose them in a plane whichis inclined with respect to the X-Z plane.

1. A nozzle device to discharge a fluid, onto vehicle windows and/orlenses of vehicle headlights, having at least one connection furnishedat a nozzle body to supply the fluid and having at least one nozzleopening on the nozzle body, which has the characteristics of a slitnozzle and is connected to the fluid connection through a fluid pathformed in the interior of the nozzle body, characterized in that atleast one rotation chamber is formed in the interior of the nozzle bodyfor the fluid, which chamber has a concave curvature around at least oneaxis of rotation in at least one partial area of an interior surfacebounding the rotation chamber and is enclosed by opposing end wallsurfaces, that a mouth of the fluid connection issues eccentrically intothe chamber referenced to the axis of rotation, and that the at leastone nozzle opening is offset at an angle around the axis of rotation tobe substantially non-aligned with respect to the opening of the mouth ofthe fluid connection.
 2. The nozzle device from claim 1, wherein therotation chamber, at least in a partial area of an inner surface lyingbetween an opening of the fluid connection and the at least one nozzleopening, has a concave configuration.
 3. The nozzle device from claim 1,wherein the rotation chamber has a concave configuration over an entireinner surface enclosing the axis of rotation.
 4. The nozzle device fromclaim 1, wherein the rotation chamber, at least on the concave partialarea of an inner surface, is configured corresponding to the surface ofa body of rotation co-axial with the axis of rotation.
 5. The nozzledevice from claim 1, wherein the rotation chamber is configured as acircular cylinder shape at least on the concave partial area of itsinner surface.
 6. The nozzle device from claim 1, wherein the fluidconnection forms a passage to supply the fluid, an axis of which passageopens eccentrically into the rotation chamber at the mouth.
 7. Thenozzle device from claim 1, wherein the fluid connection forms a passageto supply the fluid, and the passage opens into the rotation chambersubstantially tangentially referenced to an imaginary circle drawnaround the axis of rotation.
 8. The nozzle device from claim 1, whereinan opening of the fluid connection and the at least one nozzle openingare provided on the inner surface of the rotation chamber enclosing theaxis of rotation.
 9. The nozzle device from claim 1, wherein the fluidconnection forms a passage to supply the fluid, and the axis of one ofthe passages of the fluid connection and of the opening lies in a planesubstantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
 10. The nozzledevice from claim 1, wherein an opening of the fluid connection and theat least one nozzle opening are furnished offset to each other by anangular amount different than 90°.
 11. The nozzle device from claim 1,wherein the nozzle opening is formed by at least one nozzle slit and/orby at least one array of a plurality of nozzle openings.
 12. The nozzledevice from claim 11, wherein the at least one of the nozzle slit and atleast one array of nozzle openings extend over an angular range aroundthe axis of rotation.
 13. The nozzle device from claim 11, wherein theat least one of the nozzle slit and the at least one array of nozzleopenings are furnished in a plane which lies perpendicular to the axisof rotation and includes an angle with it.
 14. The nozzle device fromclaim 11, wherein one of the at least one nozzle slit and the at leastone array of nozzle openings extend along an imaginary helical linearound the axis of rotation.
 15. The nozzle device from claim 1,characterized by the nozzle device is manufactured from one of metal andplastic.
 16. The nozzle device from claim 1, wherein the axis of thefluid connection and the axis of the at least one nozzle opening havingthe characteristics of a fan lie in a substantially common plane.
 17. Anozzle device to discharge a fluid, onto vehicle windows and/or lensesof vehicle headlights, having at least one connection furnished at anozzle body to supply the fluid and having at least one nozzle openingon the nozzle body, which has the characteristics of a slit nozzle andis connected to the fluid connection through a fluid path formed in theinterior of the nozzle body, characterized in that at least one rotationchamber is formed in the interior of the nozzle body for the fluid,which chamber has a concave curvature around at least one axis ofrotation in at least one partial area of an interior surface boundingthe rotation chamber, that a mouth of the fluid connection issueseccentrically into the chamber referenced to the axis of rotation, andthat the at least one nozzle opening is offset at an angle around theaxis of rotation with respect to the opening of the mouth of the fluidconnection, wherein means to modify the emerging fluid jet are furnishedon the outer surface of the nozzle body in the area of the at least onenozzle.
 18. The nozzle device from claim 17, wherein the means to modifythe fluid jet are formed by a surface extending away from the nozzlebody and adjacent the at least one nozzle opening, which surface is oneof part of a projection and is profiled.
 19. A nozzle device todischarge a fluid, onto vehicle windows and/or lenses of vehicleheadlights, comprising: at least one fluid connection furnished at anozzle body to supply the fluid; at least one nozzle opening on thenozzle body, connected to the fluid connection through a fluid pathformed in the interior of the nozzle body; and at least one fluidrotation chamber formed the interior of the nozzle body for the fluid,the at least one fluid rotation chamber having a concave curvaturesurface around at least one axis of fluid rotation in at least onepartial area of an interior surface and enclosed by opposing end wallsurfaces, a mouth of the fluid connection issuing eccentrically into thechamber referenced to the axis of rotation to be directed by the concavecurvature surface, and the at least one nozzle opening offset at anangle around the axis of rotation to be substantially non-aligned withrespect to the opening of the mouth of the fluid connection.
 20. Thenozzle device of claim 19, wherein the fluid connection forms a passageto supply the fluid, and the passage opens into the rotation chambersubstantially tangentially referenced to an imaginary circle drawnaround the axis of rotation.